Selector or translating device



Jufiy 17, 1934. Q TURNER 1,966,876

SELECTOR OR TRANSLATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1927 Patented July 17,1934 usurp stares PATENT other 8 Claims.

My present invention relates to a selector or translating device for usewith an alarm or signal circuit having a plurality of branches so as topermit theinstallatio n of facilities for originating signals atdifferent localities.

'The object of my present invention is to provide a device which may beassociated with such a branched alarm or signal circuit for selecting ortranslating or ascertaining the particular location'from which a signaloriginates.

I have accomplished this object by means of the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawing in Which- V I N Fig. 1 is an elevation of thefront of the cabinet inwhich the instrumentalities may be conveniently'located.

"Fig. 2 is a transverse, central, vertical section of the switch casing;and

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the circuit employed.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that a circuit to which myinvention is applicable comprises a battery 27 or other source ofelectrical energy from one pole of which extends a conductor 28, whichis divided to provide branches A, B, C, etc. Each branch includes signaloriginating mechanism which 1 have shown as switches 29-29, and whichmay also include signals such as buzzers or lamps 3030. The branchesA,B, C, etc. also include elcctromagnetic elements .20 of relays, theblades 21 of which relays are connected by branches A, B, C, etc. withthe respective branches A, B, C, etc. The conductor leading from or tothe opposite pole of the battery 27, which for brevity 1 denote thereturn 24, the terminals of the branch circuits A, B, C, etc. and theblades 21 of the relays are connected with my apparatus, as hereinafterdescribed.

The cabinet in which the apparatus may be installed comprises arectangular box, the front wall 5 of which is centrally perforated, asat 6, to disclose the face of the switch casing and above the aperture 6the front wall is provided with apertures 7-7 in which may be placedbulls eyes above the location of lamps 8-8. Below the central aperture 6in the front cover may also be provided apertures with removableclosures 9 behind which are installed buzzers 10-40.. The switchelement, the front of which is visible through central opening 6 of thecabinet cover, comprises a cylindrical casing 11, which has front andrear closures 12 and 13 formed of suitable non-conducting plates. Anumber of switch points 14 are arranged concentrically around the edgeof the rear plate 12 with the contact members of the switch points uponthe inner face of the plate and their stems extending through the plateto afford means for making external connection therewith. An oppositeand similarly arranged number of index buttons, provided with suitableindicia 15, are fixed to the front plate. Centrally of both plates isjournaled a shaft 16 adjacent the bottom or rear of which is secured aswitch arm 1'? which co-operates with the switch points 1%; and to theforward projecting end of shaft 16 is secured an indicator arm 18co-operate ing with the index buttons and just in front of the indicatorarm 18 an operating handle with a transverse plate 19 is mounted on theshaft by means of which the shaft and the arms carried thereby arerotated. A spring 20 is disposed about the shaft and is securedrespectively to the hub of switch arm 17, and to the frontplate 12 andso tensioned as to automatically return the switch and indicating armsto an initial position above the first switch point and index buttonwhenever the finger plate 19 or its knob is released. It will be seenthat the switch points 14 and the switch arm 1'7 through which therespective cir cuits are closed are completely encased within the casing11 and are thereby protected from dust, atmospheric effects, fumes,accidents and tamper: ing. The switch points are respectively connected,

(except switch point No. 1) through their stems r with circuits A, B, C,etc. including the respective stations from which signals may beoriginated.

To complete and close the respective circuits A, B, C, etc. theconductor 22 runs from the rear of shaft 16 to a loop 23 in which thelamps 8 are interposed in parallel and from the other side of which loopthe conductor 251 runs to complete the circuit. If either of thecircuits A, B, C, etc. are energized and the indicator arm is turned tothe energized circuit, the circuit will be closed through the lamps 8and the person who is operating the instrument will thereby ascertainwhich circuit is energized. I To provide a local 7 larm the circuit Xinclud: ing the several blades 21 in parallel joins one side of a loop25 in which the buzzers 10 are included in parallel and from the otherside of the loop 25a conductor 2d runs to contact index point, 1 withwhich switch arm 17 remains nor-, mally in contact when theapparatus isnot 133-. operated. Just as soon, howevenasthe shaft is turned away frompoint 1 the local alarm.cir-. cuit is open and the local audible signalscease. It will be noted that the closing of any of the. branch circuitsA, B, C, etc. by means of the arm 1'? will energize the electro-magnetic elements 20 and open the local alarm circuit X When a signaloriginates in any of the cir-. cuits A, B, C, etc., say branch circuitA, the bell 3Q rings and the current proceeding through conductor 28,the branch circuit A, circuit A, switch 21, circuit X, loop 25,conductor 26, arml'l, conductor 22, loop 23 and return 24 energizes boththe buzzers 10 and lamps 8. When the arm 1''! is rotated to ascertainthe location of the origin of the signal the above circuit is broken bythe disconnection of the arm 17 with the switch point 1 and both thebuzzers 10 and lamps 8 are de-energized. When the arm 17 arrives at thebranch circuit A over which the signal is coming, the circuit is closedfrom the end of branch circuit A through the arm 17, conductor 22, loop23 and return 24 and the lamps 8 are energized. The closing of branchcircuit A energizes the electro-magnetic element 20 which opens theswitch 21 and the buzzers remain quiet.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawing itwill be perceived that I have provided a simple and convenient means foruse in connection with a plurality of signal circuits for ascertainingwhich one of said circuits is energized.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a branched alarm or signal circuit a device ofthe kind described comprising a plurality of concentrically arrangedcircuit terminals with which the branches of said signal or alarmcircuit respectively connect, a switch arm operable to co-operate withsaid respective terminals, a conductor loop having a plurality ofsignals included therein in parallel, one side of which loop isconnected with. said switch arm and the other side of which loop isconnected with a portion, of said alarm or signal circuit common to theseveral branches.

2. In combination with a branched. alarm or signal circuit a device ofthe kind described including a plurality of circuit terminalsconcentrically arranged with which terminals the branches of said alarmor signal circuit are respectively connected, a switch operable toco-operate with said respective terminals, a conductor loop includingsignal devices in parallel one side whereof is connected with saidswitch arm and the other side whereof is connected with a portion ofsaid alarm or signal circuit common to the several branches, means forreturning said switch arm to a predetermined terminal, a loop includingsignal devices in parallel connected with said predetermined terminal,relays included in the circuit of said terminals other than said lastmentioned terminal, and circuits derived from said terminal circuits andopened by said respective relays connected with said last mentionedloop.

3. In combination, a branched electric circuit, means for originatingsignals included in said respective branches, a plurality of circuitterminals with which the branches of said circuit-respectively connect,a switch arm operable to co operate with said respective terminals,signal means, a conductor in which said signal means is included, oneend of which is connected with said switch arm and the other end ofwhich constitutes the return of said branched circuit.

4. In combination, a branched electric circuit, means for originating asignal included in the respective branches of said circuit, a pluralityof circuit terminals with which the branches of said circuit arerespectively connected and an additional predetermined terminal withwhich no branch is directly connected, a switch operable to co-operatewith said respective terminals, a conductor, a signal device included insaid conductor, one end of said conductor being connected with saidswitch arm and the other end of said conductor being a portion of thereturn of said branched circuit, means for returning said switch arm tosaid predetermined terminal, a conductor, a signal device included insaid conductor, said conductor being connected with said predeterminedterminal, relays included in the branches of said circuit running tosaid terminals and circuit derived from said branches opened by saidrelays connected with said last mentioned conductor.

5. In combination, a branched circuit, means for originating signalsincluded in said respective branches, circuit terminals for saidrespective branches and an additional predetermined terminal, relaysincluded in said respective branches, circuits derived from saidrespective branches opened by said respective relays connected with saidadditional predetermined terminal, a signal included in said lastmentioned circuits and switch operable to co-operate with saidterminals, a return from said switch to said first mentioned branchedcircuit and a signal included in said last mentioned return.

6. In combination, a branched circuit, means for originating a signalincluded in the branches of said cir uit, a switch operable toco-operate with the terminals of the branches of said circuit, anadditional terminal with which said switch also co-operates, relaysincluded in the branches of said circuit and circuits derived from saidbranches opened by said relays communicating with said additionalterminal, said switch having electrical connection with the return ofsaid branched circuit and signal means included in said return.

'7. In combination with a branched circuit a device of the kinddescribed including a switch element comprising a casing, front and rearinsulating closures for said casing, a plurality of switch pointsconcentrically located upon the inner face of said rear closure, asimilar plurality of indicating buttons located upon the front face ofsaid front closure, a shaft journaled in said front and rear closures, aswitch arm mounted upon said shaft co-operating respectively with saidswitch points, an indicator arm mounted upon said shaft co-operatingwith said indicator buttons, a spring for returning said shaft toinitial position when released, the branches of said circuitcommunicating with said switch points other than the initial onethereof, said switch arm connecting with the return of said branchedcircuit, a signal included in said retiun, relays included in thebranches of said branched circuit, circuits derived from said branchesopened by said relays communicating with the initial of said switchpoints, and a signal device included in said circuits.

8. A circuit for an apparatus of the kind described having on one side aplurality of branches terminating in contacts, said branches having eachincluded therein a circuit opening and closing device and a relay, saidcircuit having included on the other side thereof signal devices and aswitch arm movable to co-operate with said contacts, an additionalcontact with which said switch arm also co-operates, and circuitsderived from said branches, which derived circuits are opened by theoperation of said relays, communicating with said additional contact,and an additional signal device included in said derived circuits.

CHARLES A. TURNER.

